The new board includes five members from each of the current chamber and EDC boards, and five at-large members. The new board chairman will be chosen at the first meeting after Feb. 1.

The new board will also serve as a transition team, planning and implementing the new merger.

“The local and national economies have illustrated that we are in unusual times and that business as usual will not cut it,” said Doug Quimby, EDC Board Chair. “The new organization will harness the energy and focus of the business community enabling us to be far more effective in achieving our collective goals.”

A Search Committee has been established to conduct a national search for the CEO of the new organization, and organizers believe the new CEO will be hired in the next three to four months. The Search Committee is co-chaired by chamber board Chairman Bill Hodgkins and EDC board Chairman Doug Quimby.

“Colorado Springs’ collaborative new approach to economic development is an ideal complement to Colorado’s Bottom-Up Economic Development Plan,” said Gov. John Hickenlooper. “The new organization, built on a solid foundation of the two groups, will strengthen our collective efforts and help to advance a strong recovery for our state and the southern region.”

The new organization will focus on economic development and job creation, but membership programs and services will remain the same, according to a press release about the announcement.

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